Snowplow



Sept. 3, 1929.

c. s. WEBSTER SNOWPLOW Filed oct. 8, v1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sheetsv-Sheet 2 c.A s. WEBSTER SNOWPLOW Filed Oct. 8, 1926 45a? www Sept. 3, 1929.

Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Application iled October 8, .1926. Serial No. 140,261.

This invention relates to a wedge-shaped snow plow having a cutting edge at its forward portion and a moldboard, or a pair of mol'dboards, extending rearwardly and'outwardly from ythe cutting edge, the plow being adapted, when forced forward through a deposit of snow, to cut through the deposit and laterally displace suflicient snow to form a path, the width of which is determined by the width of the rear portion of the plow. The Idisplaced snow is compressed and moved sidewise by the moldboard or boards, its compression increasing with its movement rearward from the cutting edge, so that the frictional resistance offered byI the displaced snow to the forward movement of the plow, progressively increases from the cutting forward end to the rear end of the plow, an endless conveyor composed of a band and blades carried thereby, being provided for reducing this frictional resistance and facilitating the rearward and outward movenient of snow from the cutting edge to the rear end of the single moldboard of a wedge-shaped plow, formed to laterally displace snow in one direction only, and to the rear ends of the two moldboards of a plow formed to laterally displace snow in two directions simultaneously, each moldboard being oblique to the direction of movement of the plow.

This invention is embodied in certain improvements hereinafter described and claimed, said improvements relating to the form of the moldboard, whereby snow displaced thereby is prevented from upwardly displacing the moldboard; to means for antifrictionally supporting the conveyor, so that its movement is not object-ionably opposed by pressure of snow against it; to means for removing snow carried by| each conveyor blade from the path of a following blade; and to means for driving the conveyor independently of the means for progressively moving the plow as a whole, so that the operation of the conveyor is not dependent on aprogressive movement of the plow.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,-k

Figure 1 isa top plan view of a snow plow embodying the invention, one of the moldboards being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same.

Figure 3 is a section on line 8-3 of Figure 1.

Figure i is a top plan view, showing a different embodiment of the invention. y

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, showing the rear portion of the moldboard and a portion of an endless carrier, the blades of which are provided with clearing wings, for a purpose hereinafter described.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

My improved plow includes a carrying frame 12, which may be the chassis frame of a motor vehicle, supported by running gear including traction wheels 13, and a steeringwheel 14, the traction wheels being, for example, the usual driving rear wheels of a mo# tor truck driven by an engine or motor conventionally shown at 15 (Figure 2). obvious, however, that caterpillar tractors may be used, instead of the wheels 13, and that the axis of the steering-wheel may 'be moved by any suitable means, to steer the plow.

The frame has a wedge-shaped forward portion including a cutting edge or apex 16, and either one or two moldboards, extending rearwardly and outwardly from the cutting edge, and arranged obliquely relative to the direction of movement of the plow. When the plow is intended to form a relatively wide path, by displacing snow laterally in opposite directions, two moldboards are employed, and the cutting edge 16 is arranged on the longitudinal median line of the frame, the moldboards extending outwardly in opposite directions from said median line, each moldboard being arranged obliquely to the path of movement. As best shown by Figure 3,

each moldboard preferably includes a sub.

stantially vertical body portion 17, and a longitudinally extending lower portion 17a, inclined outwardly and downwardly from the body portion and presenting an upwardly facing inclined surface, for a purpose hereinafter described.

l/Vhen the plow is intended to form a narrower path, by displacing snow laterally in one direction only, the cutting edge is arranged at one side of the longitudinal median line, and the one moldboard 17 extends from the cutting edge rearwardly and out wardly from the cutting edge across the median line, as indicated by Figure 1. lVhen two moldboards are employed, the invention is embodied as next described.

Associated with each moldboard is a conveying means including an endless band 18, preferably a sprocket chain, spaced apart vertical blades19 secured to the chain and Itisv projecting laterally therefrom, the blades being vertically elongated and extending crosswise of the chain, and wheels 20 and 21, preferably sprocket wheels, having teeth engaging the links of the chain, to drive the same. rlhe wheels 2O and 21 are supported by bearings liked to the moldboard, and are arranged to support the chain and maintain it in substantially parallel outer and inner stretches, extending substantially parallel with the moldboard, the outer stretch being at the outer side of the moldboard, so that the blades carried by that stretch project outwardly from the moldboard. As best shown by Figure 1, the moldboard is provided with openings 23 and 24:, coinciding with the wheels 2O and 21, the arrangement being such that the inner stretch of the chain, and the blades carried thereby, are at the inner side of the moldboard. The chains 13 associated with the two moldboards are driven simultaneously, preferably by an auxiliary engine or motor, desig nated conventionally by 15a, through suitable means transmitting torque from said engine to the wheels 20. Said means may include transverse shafts 25, driven by the auxiliary engine and provid-ed with beve-l gears 26 meshing with bevel gears 27, fixed to the shafts of the sprocket wheels 20. rlChe direction of movement imparted to the chains 18 is such that the blades 19 on the outer stretches of the chains, move rearwardly from the cutting edge 16, and outwardly to the rear ends of the moldboards, the blades engaging snow displaced by the moldboards and facilitating the movement of the snow from the cutting edge to the rear ends. The moldboard includes an elongated side portion between its front and rear ends constituting a backing for the outer stretch and the blades carried thereby, against inward displacement by the pressure of snow on said blades.

l provide means for laterally and antifrictionally supporting the outer stretches of the chains against inward displacement by the pressure of snow on the blades thereof, said means being preferably embodied in tracks 29, on the outer sides of the moldboards, and wheels 30, journaled on transverse rods 18L constituting members of the sprocket chains. rllhe wheels rotate in substantially frictionless contact with the tracks 29, and are preferably provided with flanges 31, bearing on side portions ofthe tracks 29, so that the chains are prevented from sagging between the wheels 2O and 21.

When the plow is organized as indicated by Figure 1, the torque-transmitting means, drives one endless band or chain, instead of two. The conventional representation of an auxiliary engine shown by Figure 1, is

yomitted from Figure 4l. The organization may be otherwise as above described.

mames Each blade 19 is preferably fixed by a bolt or bolts 33 (Figure 5) to a link of the sprocketl chain constituting the endless band. When the band or chain is passing around the sprocket wheels 2O and 21, each blade successively assumes different radial positions relative to the aires of the sprocket wheels,

fixed 'to the inner portion of the blade, and 5' arranged as shown by Figure 5, so that it contacts with a stop 35 on the endless band, when the blade is in a straight stretch of the band, and swings with the blade when'the latter is passing around the rear sprocket wheel 20. The swinging movement of the wing dis )laces a body s of snow from they path of t-he following blade 19.

The utility of the Vmoldboard including the substantially vertical body portion 17,

and the inclined lower portion 1"(a present ing an upwardly facing inclined surface, as above described, is as follows: Snow displaced by the moldboard is compacted thereby. rlhe density of the snowl is greatest at the surface of the ground, and decreases upwardly. lf the inclined portion 17a were not provided, and the entire outer side of the moldboard were vertical, the more densely compactedl snow pressing against the lower portion of the moldboard, would have a tendency to upwardly displace the moldboard and thus render the operation of the plow imperfect. l find that the downward pressure'of the more densely compacted snow on the inclined portion 17a holds the moldboard down and prevents its upward displacement.

By employing two motors 15 and 15EL one driving the traction means to cause progressive movement of the plow as a whole, and the other independently driving the conveyor, l am enabled to independently control the speed of the conveyor, so that its operation is not dependent on a progressive movement of the plow. lt will be seen, therefore, that if the progressive movement is retarded or stopped by very deep snow, the conveyorpcontinues to operate at the same speed as before, and soon permits an acceleration or continuation of the progres'- sive movement.

lf the plow and conveyor were operated by a single motor, the conveyor must slow down or stop with the plow.

I claim:

1. A snow plow comprising a carrying frame, running gear supporting the frame, and including driven traction means and a steering-wheel, the frame having a wedgeshaped forward portion including a cutting edge and a moldboard extending rearwardly and outwardly from the cutting edge, and arranged obliquely to the path of movement of the plow, conveying means associated with the moldboard and including an endless band, spaced apart laterally projecting vertical blades secured to the band, and wheels supported by the frame and engaged with and supporting said band, and maintaining it in outer and inner stretches the outer stretch extending substantially parallel with the moldboard, so that the blades carried by said stretch project outwardly from the moldboard, and means for driving said band to cause the blades on the outer stretch to move rearwardly from the cutting edge, the arrangement being such that the rearward and outward movement of snow caused by the cutting edge and moldboard, is facilitated by the conveyor, the moldboar'd includinga substantially vertical body portion parallel with the inner edges of the blades, and from which said blades project, and a longitudinally extending lower portion inclined outward-ly and downwardly from the body portion below the blades, and presenting an upwardly facing inclined surface on which compacted snow contacting with the lower portion of the moldboard exerts a downward pressure to prevent upward displacement of the plowl and blades.

2. A snow plow comprising a carrying frame, running gear supporting the frame,

and inclu-ding driven traction means and a steeringwheel, the frame having a wedgeshaped forward portion including a cutting edge and a moldboard extending rearwardly and outwardly from the cutting edge, and arranged obliquely to the path of movement of the plow, conveying means associated with the moldboard and including an endless band, spaced apart laterally projecting blades secured to the band, and wheels supported by the frame and engaged with and supporting said band, and maintaining it in outer and inner stretches, the outer stretch extending substantially parallel with the moldboard at the outer side thereof, so that the blades carried by said stretch project outwardly from the moldboard, and means for driving said band to cause the blades on the outer stretch to move rearwardly from the cutting edge, the arrangement being such that the rearward and outward movement of snow caused by the cutting edge and moldboard, is facilitated by the conveyer, the band being provided with rollers and the moldboard with a longitudinal track supporting the rollers of the outer stretch, so that said stretch is laterally supported against inward displacement by the pressure of snow against the blades thereof.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

CARL S. WEBSTER. 

